Critter Corner
Animal Cruelty
Some time ago, a woman told me how upset she was about something she had witnessed. She had volunteered at another non-profit organization, and one of the clients had walked to her car. A small dog jumped out of the car, and the woman began beating the dog. She even commented, “Sometimes, you just have [...]
Summer Care
Summers are definitely the hardest season for animals. We believe, based on our experiences, that we lose more companion animals to the heat than we do to cold weather. We also believe that most of the deaths that occur in the summer are preventable. During hot weather, our humane investigators have zero tolerance for the [...]
Volunteers are Vital!
About five years ago, I was invited to sit on a panel at a conference of humane organizations in Virginia. I was one of six panel members to discuss the challenges shelters face. At the start of the session, we were asked to give an overview of our organization. The first woman said her shelter [...]
May 20 Wildlife
A few weeks ago, we complained about the cold weather and in a few weeks we will be complaining about the hot weather. For now, the temperatures are generally pleasant and that means the animal kingdom is busy having babies. Chances are, many of you will come into contact with baby wildlife. Federal and state [...]
Update 2004-2011
We recently appeared before Danville City Council and Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors to speak about the E. Stuart James Grant Adoption Center. Appearing before a body of elected officials is always a little intimidating, I must admit. We reminded council members that, in February of 2004, we came before them body several times to [...]
Our Friend, Joanie
In 1983 when a friend persuaded me to become an active volunteer for the Danville Area Humane Society, I went to my first meeting. I met Bill and Joanie Schwarz, and quickly learned that they were the backbone, legs, and arms for the humane society. During the early years before we began operating the shelter, [...]
News Release
$3,000 Reward Offered
The Danville Area Humane Society is offering a reward of up to $3,000 for the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the torture of a male Jack Russell terrier on Tuesday, October 23, 2012. At approximately 10:00 p.m., shelter employees were contacted by the Danville Police Department regarding a severely injured [...]
Reward for Guinea Pig Abandonment
The Danville Area Humane Society is offering a reward of up to $500 for information leading to the conviction of the person responsible for abandoning a guinea pig at the dumpster site on Kentuck Road. Late Monday evening, a woman called to say she had just found a guinea pig in a cage in front [...]
Senate Bill 26
A bill that would essentially legalize poaching has just passed, with an amendment, out of Senate Courts of Justice Committee. The Bill, Senate bill 26 essentially prevents the game warden from investigating a hunter or fisherman unless the warden has “probable cause to make an arrest”. The warden can’t look in the crell or in [...]
Urgent! Action Needed Immediately
There are some very bad bills for animals that have been introduced, but only two need your attention now. Senate Bill 610 This bill adds hunting dogs, working dogs and show dogs to the definition of agricultural animals and removes them from the definition of companion animals. It also allows the owner of these 3 [...]
